Category Archives: Frank Robinson Collection

On this day in 1966, Frank Robinson was named as the 1966 AL Most Valuable Player. And it was really not contest – Robinson was the Triple Crown winner as he led the American League is Batting Average, RBI, and Home Runs.

What made this award even more special is that Robinson became the first player to win the MVP in both leagues with this award in 1966.

You see, just 5 seasons prior, in 1961, he won the award with the Cincinnati Reds of the National League.

On this day in 1971, Frank Robinson connected for the 500th home run of his amazing baseball career!!!

At home and sitting in first place in the American League East division, the Orioles were hosting the Detroit Tigers. Robinson entered the game with 499 home runs on his resume and was looking to make history in front of the fans at Memorial Stadium.

And he delivered…

He made the faithful Oriole fans wait until the bottom of the 9th inning, but he crushed a 2-run homer for #500. The shot came off of Tigers pitcher Fred Scherman and the crowd erupted in applause for Robinson even though his team trailed the Tigers by 5 runs and eventually lost the game by a score of 10-5.

Frank Robinson was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. The headliner of that class, Robinson collected 370 of the 415 votes cast by the writers.

And while I have not been able to find a transcript of his speech, I have to guess that it was pretty empowering.

As for Robinson’s Hall of Fame plaque, it reads:

“First to be chosen Most Valuable Player in both leagues – – NL in 1961 and AL in 1966. Set records by hitting homers in 32 different parks and with pair of grand slammers in successive innings in 1970. Fourth in homers (586), Fifth in extra bases on long hits (2,450), Fifth in Total Bases (5,375), on retiring. Led NL in Slugging percentage in 1960-61-62 and AL in batting, home runs, runs batted in, total bases, and slugging percentage in 1966′.

Frank Robinson holds the distinction of being baseball’s first African-American manager.

After being considered as a managerial candidate for several years, Robinson was finally given the chance to manage a squad in 1975.

In total, Robinson managed four different teams over a 16-year span. Compiling a win-loss record of 1,065-1,176, Robinson was hardly put in a place to win. The teams he managed? The Indians, Giants, Orioles, and Nationals – not actually threats to any pennants…

On September 13, 1971, Frank Robinson connected for the 500th home run of his amazing baseball career!!!

At home and sitting in first place in the American League East division, the Orioles were hosting the Detroit Tigers. Robinson entered the game with 499 home runs on his resume and was looking to make history in front of the fans at Memorial Stadium.

And he delivered…

He made the faithful Oriole fans wait until the bottom of the 9th inning, but he crushed a 2-run homer for #500. The shot came off of Tigers pitcher Fred Scherman and the crowd erupted in applause for Robinson even though his team trailed the Tigers by 5 runs and eventually lost the game by a score of 10-5.